ESPN: Steelers should wait to hand off starting job

[stillers4me]

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said Rashard Mendenhall will return to practice this week but he declined to answer whether the running back will start Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

"We expect him to participate this week," Tomlin said at Tuesday's news conference, "and we will see where that participation leads us."

That's not a surprise. That's just being smart. This isn't an endorsement to bench Mendenhall after he sat out last Sunday's game with hamstring injury. Still, you can't simply go back to handing the ball off to him 20 times a game and act like backups Isaac Redman and Jonathan Dwyer didn't fight for every yard in his absence.

This should be the Steelers' game plan going forward: Stick with the hot running back. Tomlin should tell the running backs that he's not going to decide which one gets the most carries in a game. The running backs will determine that by the way they practice and by way they plan in games. It could be Mendenhall one game, or it could be Redman for one half.......

Read more @ http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/po...f-starting-job

[salamander]

Whatever gets the job done. As long as the o-line blocks well, whoever is running the ball will succeed.

[zulater]

ESPN should trust that Tomlin knows his team better than they do, and will make what changes are needed, when they are needed.

I think we all know that Mendenhall is a very good back, and will contribute in a big way before too long. It might be this week, maybe the week after, or even maybe a week or two after that?

[steeldevil]

We'll see what happens against the Jags.

If I were Tomlin and Mendy was healthy, I would start Redman and let him play 2 series and then put in Mendy and let him play 2 series and go from there. Probably give Dwyer a series or 2 over the course of the game too. And see what happens.

[zulater]

We'll see what happens against the Jags.

If I were Tomlin and Mendy was healthy, I would start Redman and let him play 2 series and then put in Mendy and let him play 2 series and go from there. Probably give Dwyer a series or 2 over the course of the game too. And see what happens.

I'm fine with starting Mendenhall, but Redman deserves a few series in the game as well. And if one is doing noticeably better than the other, ride out the hot hand.

[ALLD]

Put Mendy in after Redzone and Dwyer, IF necessary. Make him earn it.

[Count Steeler]

Start Redman. Mendy, if healthy, can cheer from the sideline until the second quarter. Play him about the 3rd or 4th series and see how he performs. If his twinkle toes continue, sit him till next week.

[HometownGal]

Start Redman. Mendy, if healthy, can cheer from the sideline until the second quarter. Play him about the 3rd or 4th series and see how he performs. If his twinkle toes continue, sit him till next week.

BINGO.

[fansince'76]

ESPN should trust that Tomlin knows his team better than they do, and will make what changes are needed, when they are needed.

Agreed. The day the coaching staff starts taking coaching advice from Disney Channel II, we're doomed.

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

Agreed. The day the coaching staff starts taking coaching advice from Disney Channel II, we're doomed.

When they start taking advice from posters on this message board, then I'm heading for my ark in the mountains.

[SteelerEmpire]

Originally Posted by fansince'76
Agreed. The day the coaching staff starts taking coaching advice from Disney Channel II, we're doomed.

When they start taking advice from posters on this message board, then I'm heading for my ark in the mountains.

Ravens coach's have been doing that for years off of the Raven's message board.